To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the procedure is for (a) individuals and (b) businesses to apply for funding from the Economic Challenge Investment Fund. (286630)

The Economic Challenge Investment Fund (ECIF) is a Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) matched funding initiative available to higher education institutions with a total value of just over £58 million. The fund was set up to help the sector provide swift and responsive support to individuals and businesses affected by the economic downturn. Individuals and businesses can access support directly from those higher education institutions successful in securing additional funding through ECIF.